So let me get this straight: In spring 2015 the Haines Borough School District superintendent and the school board unanimously agreed to allow the Chilkat Valley Preschool to use an available space and conduct their classes at the Haines School beginning in fall 2016. This memorandum of understanding was not honored by the replacement superintendent and school board, with the main reason for dissolving this arranged relationship being the protest of a few, select teachers. Because the CVP counted on this welcoming accommodation, they are now struggling to find a place to conduct their 2016-2017 school year. Please help me understand: Four days per week, with four hours of classes from 9 am to 1 p.m., and an extra hour before and after for the CVP teachers to clean up is too much of an impact in a school with 275 students? There are currently 17 students in CVP. Letting these kids into that large building will negatively impact the other 275 students? Why would Haines School shun the chance to improve the education of its incoming students or at least provide a space for CVP to do so? The opposition to this shows inflexibility and a lack of problem solving ability, and is not consistent with the mission of the district. Here are quotes from the district’s mission/goals webpage: “We believe learning is a lifelong process…” and “We believe in the value of community, and celebrate the diversity among us. Education is the responsibility of the student, family, school and community.”
Brian Elliot